BACKGROUND: Workers in the microbiology laboratories are continuously exposed to the risk of laboratory-associated infections. Tuberculosis (TB) is a frequent laboratory-acquired infection owing to production of cough-generated aerosols with ease and high infectivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study aims to investigate the current situation of biosafety in Korean TB laboratories. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey of laboratories in hospitals conducting TB tests using questionnaires about their facility and management standards. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 52 hospitals nationwide that have a capacity of 100–2,000 beds, of which only two laboratories conduct high risk drug-susceptibility testing on cultured isolates among other test items, whereas six laboratories perform only direct sputum-smear microscopy. The remaining laboratories performed moderate-risk activities/tests, like sample processing for culture. In the majority of these laboratories, there are laboratory medicine specialists who are fully in charge of health checkup programs for laboratorians. The facility and management standards vary widely according to the size of the hospital and risk of TB tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey results about the current situation of TB laboratories could be useful as baseline data for preparing biosafety guidelines for all TB laboratories in Korea.
Aerosols ; Korea* ; Microscopy ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Specialization ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pneumoconiosis*

This study was to find out whether the rendering screen difference affect to measuring distance in a CAD program according to three types of CAD programs. Materials and methods: The model presented in ISO 12836 for dental scanner evaluation was reduced by 70%. This model was repeatedly scanned 15times using Trios II (3Shape, Denmark). Using the output STL file, 3Shape CAD, inLab 15, and ExoCAD programs were used to measure the horizontal distance (H) and vertical distance (V) between adjacent point angle, and for each experiment, three groups were set according to the CAD program type. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA test and post hoc was performed using Dunnett T3 test. Results: In the horizontal and vertical distance measurement, there was no difference in the average of the measured values between the three groups according to the CAD program (P>.05). Conclusion: There were no effect of the difference in the rendering screen in the horizontal and vertical linear distance measurements of the inlay model on the dental CAD program.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal* ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal* ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Rats*

Endometrioma is a common clinical condition, but cases in which an episiotomy scaris present are, however, rare: only two cases have been reported in obstetric journals, and one other in a radiologic journal. All three were in English. We encountered a case in which a solitary endometrioma was present in the perineal region beneath an episiotomy scar. An irregularly marginated hypoechoic mass was revealed by US, and a discrete homogeneous enhancing mass by CT.
Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Episiotomy* ; Female

PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane cell surface receptor which has tyrosine kinase activity stimulated upon EGF binding. EGFR was found to be up-regulated in various malignancies. Recently, chimeric monoclonal antibody (C225) to EGFR is under investigation as a targeted therapeutic agent for advanced colorectal cancer. Along with this advance, identification of EGFR expression in colorectal cancer became more important. METHODS: To investigate the expression of EGFR in colorectal cancer, we carried out the immunohistochemical staining in surgical specimen of 46 consecutive enrolled colorectal cancer patients of Korea Cancer Center Hospital from August, 1998 to June, 1999. The stained slides were read by pathologist and scored as negative or positive. These results were analyzed according to clinical parameters. RESULTS: Average age was 55 years old (32~73 yr) and sex ratio was 1.56 : 1. The expression rate of EGFR in colorectal cancer was 56.5% (26/46 cases). EGFR expression was not correlated with age, sex, Tie-1, Tie-2 expression, TNM stage, lymphatic invasion, presence of distant metastasis, serum VEGF level. We could not find out staitistical difference of survival according to EGFR expression. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR overexpression was well characterized by immunochemical staining method, which could be applied easily as a basic pathologic step to decide additional therapy after resection for advanced colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Sex Ratio ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

This is the first report on an occupational bladder cancer in Korea. The ease is 41 years old man who worked as a dyer for 17 years at two dyeing factories, which handled nylon and polyester fabrics in Taegu. He was exposed to many kinds of dyes during weighing, mixing, dissolving and dyeing processes. Among many kinds of acid, disperse and direct dyes that he has been exposed to, several dyes have confirmed to contain benzidine-based dyes, one was o-tolidine-based dye, and one was o-dianisidine-based dye. He visited a hospital due to the gross hematuria and urinary frequency in June, 1998, and he had radical cystectomy with ileal conduit diversion. He had smoked a half-pack of cigarette for 20 years. The main risk factor of bladder cancer is smoking, however, he was relatively a light smoker than usual Korean men. He was exposed to the definite occupational carcinogen even though the level was relatively lower than that of dye manufacturers. His age was younger than the prevalence age of bladder cancer caused by smoking. These evidences support that the dyer' s bladder cancer could be related to the occupational exposure to benzidine-based dyes.
Adult ; Coloring Agents* ; Cystectomy ; Daegu ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nylons ; Occupational Exposure ; Polyesters ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Diversion

BACKGROUND: The recovery of bacteria from blood can be affected by many factors. Standardization of blood culture methods is important for reliability. Herein, we aimed to investigate blood culture protocols in Korea. METHODS: We performed a multicenter survey with a questionnaire about blood culture practices, which was sent by email to directors and clinical physicians in charge of clinical microbiology laboratories in May 2014. Total data from 18 participating hospitals were analyzed to be used as current baseline data, which is necessary to optimize blood culture protocols. RESULTS: Many laboratories included recommended blood volume, which is a major factor for bacteria recovery rate. This varied across participating laboratories. For adults, blood sampling of 10 mL was recommended by 10 laboratories and 20 mL was recommended by 5 laboratories. For children who weighed 14-36 kg and less than 14 kg, blood sampling of 10 mL (n=8) and 5 mL (n=7) was recommended, respectively. For neonates, less than 1 mL was recommended by 12 laboratories. CONCLUSION: Substantial variations in blood culture protocols were seen across participating clinical microbiology laboratories. Efforts to standardize this protocol should be undertaken.
Adult ; Bacteria ; Blood Volume ; Child ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Sepsis

Malignant Mixed Mullerian tumors(MMMTs) are unusual neoplasms occumng mostly in the uterus and, ralely, they arise in the ovary. The clinical features of malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary are similiar to other ovarian malignancies. The clinical course is rapidly progressive and fatal. The optimal treatment modalities has remained elusive. The most reliable prognostic criterion is the initial tumor stage and the overall survival was poor. We experienced two cases of malignant mixed miillerian tumor of the ovary, so we report these cases with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Female ; Ovary* ; Respiratory Sounds ; Uterus